Dubai International Airport (DXB) maintained its position as the world’s busiest airport in February 2025, offering 4.8 million seats, according to OAG. While this reflects a 1% increase in overall capacity compared to February 2024, the leap year significantly impacts direct comparisons. A more accurate measure, seats per day, reveals a robust 5% growth for DXB.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) secured second place with 4.6 million seats, showing a 2% overall capacity increase and a 6% rise in daily seat capacity. Tokyo International Airport (HND) remained third, with 4.2 million seats, posting a modest 0.3% capacity growth and a 4% increase in daily seats.
Delhi Airport (DEL) experienced the most significant capacity surge among the top airports, with a 3.4% increase to 3.6 million seats. This growth propelled DEL to eighth place, climbing one position from January 2025 and two from February 2024. Conversely, Baiyun International (CAN) saw the largest decline, with a 13% reduction in capacity to 3.6 million seats.
In Europe, London Heathrow (LHR) continued to lead with 3.9 million seats, though overall capacity dipped by 1%. However, daily seat capacity showed a 3% increase. Istanbul Airport (IST) followed closely with 3.6 million seats, demonstrating a 3% capacity growth and a 7% rise in daily seats.
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) achieved the highest European growth, with a 6% capacity increase and a 9% rise in daily seats, reaching 3.3 million seats. Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) maintained its trend of substantial growth, posting a 6% overall increase, translating to a 10% increase in daily seats. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) experienced the most significant decline among the top 10, with a 5% reduction in capacity.
Notable shifts in the top 10 rankings included Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) overtaking Amsterdam (AMS) for third place and Madrid (MAD) surpassing Frankfurt (FRA) for fifth. These changes highlight the dynamic nature of global air travel and the varying impacts of market forces on major airport hubs.
